Graham predicts Trump's war on "narco-terrorists" will expand to land strikes

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) thinks the administration's strikes in the waters off Venezuela will expand to land, he said in a Sunday interview, adding that President Trump will brief lawmakers on "potential future military operations against Venezuela and Colombia."The big picture: Fury is growing on Capitol Hill over the strikes on purported "narco-terrorists" in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which have killed at least 43 people and stirred speculation of an attempted regime change. Lawmakers, including some Republicans, are demanding more transparency. Who the U.S. has killed, and on what evidence, remains unclear.And in yet another escalation, the U.S. deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the area after Trump suggested land strikes could be imminent.Driving the news: Graham said on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that he thinks Trump has decided "it's time for" Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro "to go," calling land strikes a "real possibility."Worth noting: The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request to confirm whether such a briefing has been scheduled. Trump last week said his administration would "probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we are doing" before launching land strikes, but added, "we don't have to do that." What he's saying: Graham did not rule out or advance the idea of there being troops on the ground in Latin America, saying, "I'll let the president speak to that."However, he told CBS News' Margaret Brennan that the military will "kill the people that want to poison America."The other side: While Trump has an ardent supporter in Graham, other Republican lawmakers have questioned his authority to carry out the strikes and the limited evidence his administration has released regarding their militarized war on drugs.Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on "Fox News Sunday" he's "been invited to no briefing" — but added, "a briefing is not enough to overcome the Constitution."He continued, "we've had no evidence presented. So, at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings."Paul's colleague across the aisle, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), called the strikes "sanctioned murder" on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. Graham dismissed Gallego's comments, saying the military was following "lawful orders."Zoom in: Graham said he "fundamentally" disagreed with Paul's contention that the president should not act without Congress and without a declaration of war. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but a formal declaration hasn't been issued since World War II. "To the other senators, you deserve more information and you're going to get more information, but there is no requirement for Congress to declare war before the commander in chief can use force," Graham argued.Catch up quick: Trump told reporters Thursday that he would not ask for a declaration of war and would just "kill people that are bringing drugs into our country." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent deferred to Defense Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday when asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether the U.S. is at war with Venezuela. The Pentagon did not respond to Graham's prediction that the operation would expand to Venezuelan soil.What we're watching: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) suggested Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that moving an aircraft carrier battle group to the Caribbean could be meant to intimidate or foreshadow combat operations."This makes us less safe," he said. "I mean, starting a war against Venezuela over what is a law enforcement action does not make any sense."Go deeper: Colombia president claims U.S. bombed Colombian boat in strike off Venezuela

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Trump guilty of ordering ‘extrajudicial killings’ with strikes on alleged drug boats, Republican senator says

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